The drumbeat for action against Syria has grown louder, with Syria promising to strike back at Israel if it's attacked by the west. But in Israel, the government is saying it will strike back hard if Syria strikes -- and it's pushing for western airstrikes because of what it sees as the bigger picture.

Israel's prime minister is warning that his country will strike back if Syria attacks the Jewish state. The threat comes after two and a half years of official Israeli silence on Syria's civil war. The Syrian regime responded with a threat of its own.

Israel's prime minister is warning that his country will strike back if Syria attacks the Jewish state. The threat comes after two and a half years of official Israeli silence on Syria's civil war. The Syrian regime responded with a threat of its own.

The drumbeat for action against Syria has grown louder, with Syria promising to strike back at Israel if it's attacked by the west. But in Israel, the government is saying it will strike back hard if Syria strikes -- and it's pushing for western airstrikes because of what it sees as the bigger picture.